This blog is devoted to Modern Indian Postal History and Modern Philately of India providing less known information on various aspects of Indian Postal Services.

Welcome

Modern Indian Postal History is very and vibrant and provides a vivid, varied and wealthy treasure of information. Idea of creating a blog ‘Glimpses of Modern Indian Philately’ is conceived to provide, share and discuss unusual or less known information exclusively on all different postal services with its sidelines, various aspects of postage stamps, postal stationery etc. and non postal facilities provided by India Post. Collectors of Modern Indian Philately around the world are invited to share the knowledge and information on the subject.

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Philatelic hobby is thriving in India
unlike in North America and Western Europe. An important indicator of
how well the hobby is doing is the number of new and younger collectors
joining the hobby. It also seems that the more collectors in India are
primarily interested in 20th century and especially post
independence period of India. Fortunately, some of the well known Indian
philatelists have written articles and even published specialized books
such as “Slogan Cancels of India” by renowned philatelist, Mr. Ashok
Bayanwala. There are numerous articles on modern Indian stamps, postal
stationery and postal history etc. in India Post, the official
publication of the India Study Circle of UK.

A major attraction of collecting post
independence India postal history is its relatively more abundant
availability and comparatively inexpensive cost compared to say 19th century British India postal history especially say 1854 lithographs on covers.

This article attempts to take a
comprehensive overview of the breadth and depth of postal history of
post independence Indian philately. The scope of post independence
postal history of India is huge. This overview is undertaken with three
objectives in mind:

1. Promote organized collection and exhibition of postal history of post independent India; and

2. Encourage further research and publication of articles, reports or books on different aspects of this subject.

3. Demonstrate that a collector can
choose to develop a collection covering a certain dimension of post
independence postal history on a relatively modest budget and use the
collection to develop scholarly exhibits for both domestic and
international philatelic exhibitions.

This overview is undertaken through an
organized classification which can help collectors to figure out what
aspects of post-independence postal history to collect and to organize
the acquisitions and to develop suitable exhibits. Another important use
of an organized classification would be to further facilitate research
in particular areas by fellow collectors. Finally such an organized
classification can also guide collectors to develop specific exhibit for
a given area of post independence postal history.

However, the relative affordability of
post independence India postal history is perhaps more an indication of
limited interest and demand rather than relative availability. An
example is the commemorative stamps issued during Rupee-Anna currency
period (1947 to 1957) immediately after independence. Conversely,
certain categories are both in significant demand and relatively scarce
such as the covers from Indian armed forces serving under UN Peace
Keeping Forces in Korea, Indo-China and Congo.

Before getting into detailed break out
of different classifications of post independence India postal history,
chronological time line is the most common parameter universally used by
philatelists worldwide.

CHRONOLOGY:

Post Independence Time Line: The author proposes following chronological periods for collectors’ consideration:

a) August 15 1947 to March 31 1957: From the Independence to End of Anna period of Indian currency.

b) April 1 1957 to 27 September 1964:
Metric Currency Transition. Indian Post Office allowed over six years to
identify new currency (i.e. One Rupee = 100 New Paisa) on postage
stamps denomination. In 1964, the Indian Post Office used both “nP” for
about seven years after which “P” was used for Paisa denomination.
SG#490 Raja Roy issue was the last one to show “nP” denomination.

c) October 1964 to December 31, 1999: Modern 20th Century Period.

d) January 1, 2000 to Current: 21st Century Period.

AN ORGANIZED APPROACH

Within the timeline described above, a
collector can consider two different categories and classifications in
the proposed organized approach as shown here:

i) Types of Postal Emissions.

a. Definitive Stamps including experimental coil.

b. Commemorative Stamps and souvenir sheets.

c. Official Stamps and postal stationery.

d. Indian Stamps Overprinted for Indian Army in international peace keeping forces in Korea, Indo-China, Congo and Gaza/Egypt.

j. Indian Stamps used Abroad: Indian Contingent of UN Peace Keeping Forces

The breadth and depth of post
independence India postal history is huge and complex. However, just
describing the organized approach above does not help us comprehend what
it entails. Hence, this article will provide some illustrative examples
of postally used covers and cards in terms of different emissions and
different aspects of Post independence India postal history. These
examples are merely to illustrate the scope, breadth and depth of post
independence Indian postal history. This article does not attempt to
show examples of every emission and every category of postal usage.
Hopefully this article will lead to other collectors and writers sharing
their areas of interest. Also, this article reflects examples of Post
independence postal history for about first 25 year period from 1947 to
1972.

These different dimensions of Post
Independence India postal history are illustrated with examples of
covers with particular emphasis on uncommon foreign destinations:

A. DEFINITIVE STAMPS : 1947 to 1957: Anna Period:

Interestingly, the first definitive
stamps were issued two years after the independence. It would be
worthwhile to check Indian postal records to determine the reason for
such a long wait after the independence. My hypothesis is that at the
time of independence, Indian Post Office had a vast stock of British
India definitive, commemorative and official stamps. It seems the Indian
PO found it economical to use up this inventory before issuing a new
set of definitive stamps. Consequently, it was fairly common to not only
find British India stamps used post 1947 period but also to see them
used in combination with independent India stamps. Such combination is
called “Mixed-Franking” usage: Another category of mixed franking is the
use of Indian stamps in combination with other country stamps which are
also illustrated in this article.

A) DEFINITIVE STAMPS: Archeology and Five Year Plan Issues:

Mixed Franking Registered Usage: Here are two different examples of mixed franking usages to foreign destination. Mixed Indian Stamps Usage.

i) British India+Independent India Combination Usage:

Figure -1A (Front) and 1B (Obverse):
This is a registered cover bearing British India SG#265-266 Pair with
independent India SG# 309 Pair, 312 and 316 tied by EXP PO B-80
(Chembur, India) sent by surface mail to Ismir Turkey. The total postage
of 7½ Anna consists of 3½ Anna for surface mail and 4 annas for
registration postage.

Fig.: 01A

Fig.: 01B

ii) Double Mixed Usage:

Fig.: 02

Figure-2: This
Registered Cover bears British India (SG#259,267 and 275) used in
combination with Independent India Archeology stamp (SG#317) on
Independent India Registered mail postal stationery making 3 Rupees, 4
Annas, 6pies for registered airmail postage rate mailed from Darjeeling
on 24 MY 1951 to Chalfont, Pa. Upon arrival in the US, the postal clerk
applied USA 10c Prexy definitive (Sc#815) to pay for US Customs
inspection service which was collected from the recipient. The use of
second country stamp typically was either for postage due collection for
short fall in postage stamps applied by sender and or for forwarding
the mail to another destination during certain period. Use of US postage
stamps for other services such as customs inspection is uncommon.

Book Post to Foreign Destinations:
About the only way to have examples of low value definitive’s on covers
to foreign destination is the book post rate as seen in the following
couple of examples:

Book Post Airmail: Figure-4A and 4B:
This is an airmail book post unsealed envelope bearing block of six of
SG#357 (One Anna First Five Year plan definitive) is mailed to Havana,
Cuba. This appears to be truly commercial usage and not philatelic.

Fig.: 04A

Fig.: 04B

Airmail to Foreign Destination:

A cover shows Archeology
8annas (SG#318) and One Rupee (SG#320) on a neat 1952 Airmail cover to
Beirut, Lebanon. This is One Rupee and 8 Anna airmail rate.

Private Post Card to Foreign Destination:

A cover shows SG#312 (4anna Republic
Issue) with SG#331 (One Anna archeology) issue is used in 1950 to
Finland. What was the correct Airmail rate for sending post card to
foreign destination? Private post card used to foreign destination are
uncommon.

Exotic Foreign Destinations:

Exotic foreign destinations are defined
as the ones which with India had relatively limited business, social or
cultural communications. Would you consider Falkland Islands an exotic
destination? Figure-7 shows a short set of Archeology stamps on a
cacheted First Day Cover used to Stanley, Falkland Island. The back of
cover does bear the receiving cancel of Stanley Falkland Islands.

Fig. 07

Another example is
Figure-8 shows a cover bearing Archeology stamps (SG#310, 312
representing 3½ Anna) used from Ahmedabad to Iceland! However, both
covers are most likely philatelic correspondence.

Fig.: 8A

Fig.: 08B

B. COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS:

Commemorative stamps on covers are very
collectible especially if one were to show examples of mint, used and on
covers with different types of usages as part of the collection or
exhibition. Beyond showing the use of commemorative covers on domestic,
international mail and of different categories, one can also show
unusual destinations and origins. Let us see some uncommon or unusual
usages of early commemoratives.

i) Exotic Foreign Destinations

Mahatma Gandhi stamps and its postal
history are perhaps very popular and more so when used on cover to
exotic foreign destinations. Figure-9A, and 9B shows 1948 Mahatma Gandhi
3½ Anna used correctly (Surface rate to foreign country was 3½ Anna).
How often can one find Mahatma Gandhi stamp used to San Jose, Costa
Rica? Back of cover does bear receiving cancel of San Jose the capital
of Costa Rica. I wonder how many covers bearing Gandhiji stamps are
known used to Costa Rica?

Fig.: 9A

Fig.: 09B

(a) A second example is the use of Tilak
commemorative stamp (SG#374) with One Anna Five Year plan (SG#357) to
Tibet (Figure 10A, 10 B). This cover was mailed from Kalimpong on
10-9-56 to Shigatse, Tibet. Interestingly by the cover also bears the
receiving bilingual (Tibetan and Chinese) cancel of Chinese Post Office
in Tibet. The 3 Anna postal rate needs further explanation. What was the
postage rate from India to Tibet during 1956?

Fig.: 10A

Fig. 10 B

ii) Book Post Rate to Foreign Destination:

(a) Figure-11 shows the 9p Kabir Poet
issue used on Book Post cover in 1952 to Philadelphia, Pa, USA. Low
value Poet issue used singly on a cover is quite uncommon and difficult
to find.

Fig.: 11

iii) Registered Mail to Foreign Destination:Figure-12 is a Post Independent
registered postal stationery envelope (15 paisa postage and 50paise
Registration fee with additional postage of Rs 3.45 made up with a strip
of 3 of SG#465 (One Re overprint on Kalidas commemorative) with Map
definitives (SG#402-5np; 409-25np) used on 1963 registered airmail cover
to Busan, Korea..a rather uncommon destination.

Fig. 12A

Fig. 12B

iv) Indian Stamps Used by UN Peace Keeping Forces:
Even though Indian Post Office prepared specially overprinted stamps
for use by the Indian Armed Forces assigned as part of UN Peace Keeping
Forces in Korea, Indo-China, Congo and Gaza, we have example of Indian
commemorative stamps used from such missions. Figure 13A and 13B shows
SG 421 (India Exhibition held in New Delhi) used in 1959 from Indian FPO
547 to Amritsar which was undelivered and eventually ended up in Dead
Letter Office (DLO) at Amritsar.

Fig.: 13A

Fig.: 13B

C. OFFICIAL STAMPS:

Official stamps used on covers are
fairly common due to large and extensive use. However as a postal
historian, one would look for uncommon usages and or destinations. One
of the more obvious areas is the use of Indian official stamps on mail
to foreign countries representing different categories of postal
services. Here we will high light some examples just to whet the
readers’ appetite!

i) Airmail to Foreign Destination:
Figure 14 shows SG O155(2 Annas) x2+SGO160 (8 Annas) totaling 12 annas
on a 1952 Airmail cover to New Zealand. The cover was mailed from
Dispatch Clerk in General Manager of GIP Railway office. The stamps are
tied by BOMBAY RMS (Railway Mail Service). Since the cover was short
paid (correct postage would be 14 annas), the New Zealand post office
collected 16cents of postage due from the recipient.

Fig.: 14

ii) Mixed Franking to Foreign Destination: Figure-15A
and 15B shows a nice registered cover bearing mixed franking of British
India and Independent India official stamps. The cover mailed from the
office of Rajpramukh of PATIALA State to Santiago, Chile. The cover
bears SG#O150, O155 and O161 making up a total of 2 Rs and 10 Annas.
Cover bears the receiving cancel of Santiago, Chile. A very attractive
and uncommon use. Please note that correctly used one Rupee official
stamp especially to foreign destination such as to Chile.

Fig. 15A

Fig.: 15B

iii) Air Parcel to Foreign Destination: In
general full parcel envelope with stamps are not easy to find as they
have low survival rate. Also by definition, parcels often bear high
value and or large number of stamps to cover very high postage rate. An
extreme example is shown as Figure 16A and 16B. This very large cloth
parcel was sent by Airmail and bears a total postage of Rs1,485.00
consisting of 148 of 10 Re stamps; 2 of 2 Re stamps and single 1 Re
stamp. According to customs declaration slip, the parcel contained a
thesis from an Indian graduate student (now an Indian government
employee) to his professor at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
Coincidentally, the author also went to the same university though much
earlier.

Fig.: 16B

Fig. 16B

D. INDIAN STAMPS OVERPRINTED FOR INDIAN ARMY UNDER UN PEACE KEEPING FORCES:

Pre-1947 British India military postal
history covers over 150 years and is very popular. Similarly the post
independent Indian military postal history especially involving foreign
expeditions under UN Peace Keeping Forces is a fertile field for post
independent Indian postal historian. Readers are invited to share their
example of commercial covers used from the Indian Custodian Forces in
Korea since the author does not readily have one to show for this
article.

i) Indian UN Forces in Congo: Figure 17A
and 17B is a non-philatelic cover bearing India SG#U1(2) and U5 making
15np rate used from Indian Forces under UN Peace Keeping Forces at
Indian FPO 660 in Congo. The cover was mailed on 9-4-62 and was received
on 14-6-62 in Amritsar as per back stamp.

Fig. 17A

Fig. 17 B

ii) International Commission in
Indo-China: CAMBODIA: Figure 18 is a cover bearing SG#N1-N4 used from
FPO 745 on 24-6-56 from ISCG at Phnom Penh Cambodia to Austria. The
airmail cover bears 11anna and 3pies postage to Austria. Author believes
this to be a philatelic cover and is overpaid.

Fig. 18

iii) International Commission in Indo
China: Laos: Figure 19A and 19B is a cover bearing complete set of
SG#N6-N10 used on Registered cover from FPO 744 (Vientine, Laos) dated
8-5-55 and sent to Perak, Malaya. Back of cover (Figure-19B) has FPO 744
registration slip and transit cancels of BASE POST OFFICE (13-2-55),
KAMPAR (17-2-55) and IPOH(17-2-55). Most likely this is also a
philatelic cover though properly used. Registered mail from Indian
Forces under UN Peace Keeping Forces are uncommon.

Fig.: 19A

Fig.: 19B

iv) International Commission in
Indo-China-Vietnam: Figure20A and 20B is a Registered cover bearing
SG#N28 (13Npx5) and N43(1Npx16) used in 1964 on Registered cover from
FPO 742 with official corner card of Controller of Accounts of
International Commission in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Cover bears a
total postage of 81nP and needs rate analysis. Cover was mailed to
Ministry of Food & Agriculture in Bombay India. Cover bears Base
Post Office cancel dated 30-6-64.

Fig. 20A

Fig.: 20B

E. Postal Stationery: India to Foreign Destinations:

Most Indian postal stationery (Postal
Cards, Postal Envelopes, Airmail Postal Stationery cards, envelopes
Official postal stationery. Only one example is share in this article to
whet the appetite.

i) Figure-21 is a 5np domestic postal
card upgraded with Indian Map series definitive (SG#400, 401 and 403
making 16 nP rate on a 1954 surface mail cover to Latvia.

Fig. 21

CONCLUSIONS & FOLLOW UPS

It is hoped that this comprehensive
survey will catch the interests of the readers to take pro-active
actions. These pro-active actions can range from comments,
clarifications or answers to questions raised in this article to digging
into their collection to re-discover their treasure and share scans of
examples. Or even better, how about contributing to a series articles as
a regular feature in the Indian Philatelic literature. Thank you.

Contributed by : Mr. Ravi Vora, USA

Note: Readers are requested to send their comments, views, suggestions on this article.

The British Legation (Nepal) P.O. was transformed into Indian embassy (Nepal) PO after India's Independence on 15th August 1947, but no specific date is recorded yet. Mr. Wolfgang C. Hellrigl also in his book "Nepal Postal History" doesn't give any specific date when legation office was taken over by Indian Embassy. But in my opinion, the transformation date should be 1st April 1948 and reason for my belief, are as follows:

India was divided on 14th-15th August 1947 at night. But the postal treatment towards Pakistan was finalised on and from 1st April 1948 only.

The Postal administration of Persian Gulf countries i.e. Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait and Muscat was handed over by India to British Post Office Agencies on and from 1st April 1948.

It is recorded in Nepal Postal History by Wolfgang that the Postal Markings were altered from British Legation (Nepal) to Indian Embassy (Nepal), in between 23rd April 1948 and 10th May 1948. It means that the change in Postal Cancellation took place after 1st April 1948 and it also means that if alteration would have taken place earlier, the cancellation would have appeared earlier.

The Indian Embassy (Nepal) PO or British Legation (Nepal) PO or Residency PO was the name of the Indian Post Office in Nepal. The Residency PO started functioning in Kathmandu, Nepal in the year 1816. It continued till 1920 when it became British Legation PO, but postal markings were changed in 1941. After India's Independence the charge of this Indian PO was handed over to Indian Embassy in Nepal on 1st April 1948, and the postal markings were changed in between 23rd April 1948 and 10th May 1948. It was closed on and from 12th April 1965.

The Indian Post Office, which worked for 149 years in Nepal, was actually worked as a Foreign Post Office of Nepal. All foreign letters (excluding India) had to be forwarded to its destination through this Post Office. Before 1950, Nepal had a rigid policy of isolation, which was relaxed during the early 1950's. Since then, Tourists Mail started flowing through Indian Embassy PO Mail arrangements between India and Nepal were as follows:

Fully Prepaid Unregistered correspondence namely, Letters, Single Post Cards, Printed papers, Business Papers, Samples and unregistered News Papers could be sent by the Post offices in India to Nepal through the offices of Exchange.

Reply Paid Post Cards, Money Order and V. P. Post Services were not available between two countries.

Registration, Insurance and Parcel Service were also not available throughout Nepal except kathmandu where Indian Post Office - Indian Embassy PO Nepal was working.

It means that Parcels within a limit of 400 tolas, Registered and Insured articles, addressed to and/ or care of this Indian Embassy PO, could be accepted. In case the addressee is not a member of the Indian Embassy, the Registered and Insured articles were handed over by the Indian Embassy (Nepal) PO to a representative of the Nepalese PO at Kathmandu, under acquittance and the later effects delivery. The above rules are recorded in Section XII of P & T Guide July 1948 and clarification there after are recorded in DGPO Circular No.49 dated 29th November 1949.